Agriculture India


The history of Agriculture in India dates back to Indus Valley Civilization.[1] India ranks second worldwide in farm outputs. As per 2018, agriculture employed more than 50% of the Indian work force and contributed 17–18% to country's GDP.[2]

In 2016, agriculture and allied sectors like animal husbandry, forestry and fisheries accounted for 15.4% of the GDP (gross domestic product) with about 41.49% of the workforce in 2020.[3][4][5][6] India ranks first in the world with highest net cropped area followed by US and China.[7] The economic contribution of agriculture to India's GDP is steadily declining with the country's broad-based economic growth. Still, agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India.

The total agriculture commodities export was US $3.50 billion in March - June 2020. India exported $38 billion worth of agricultural products in 2013, making it the seventh largest agricultural exporter worldwide and the sixth largest net exporter.[8] Most of its agriculture exports serve developing and least developed nations.[8] Indian agricultural/horticultural and processed foods are exported to more than 120 countries, primarily to the Japan, Southeast Asia, SAARC countries, the European Union and the United States.[9][10]

  1. Brese, White (1993). "Agriculture".
  2. "India economic survey 2018: Farmers gain as agriculture mechanisation speeds up, but more R&D needed". The Financial Express. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  3. "CIA Factbook: India-Economy". Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  4. Agriculture's share in GDP declines to 13.7% in 2012–13
  5. Staff, India Brand Equity Foundation Agriculture and Food in India Accessed 7 May 2013
  6. "Labor force by agriculture sector in India".
  7. "India outranks US, China with world's highest net cropland area". Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  8. 8.0 8.1 India's Agricultural Exports Climb to Record High, United States Department of Agriculture (2014)
  9. "Agriculture in India: Agricultural Exports & Food Industry in India | IBEF".
  10. "Home". Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.